AP PhotoDetroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall (facing camera) celebrates Jakub Kindl's goal in the first period of Friday's preseason game against Toronto.

DETROIT -- Jiri Hudler displayed the kind of scoring touch Friday that the Detroit Red Wings expect to see regularly this season.

Hudler scored two goals, including one of four his club scored on the power play, as the Red Wings routed the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-3, in preseason action at Joe Louis Arena.

It was the first exhibition game in which the Red Wings have had the Hudler-Mike Modano-Dan Cleary line intact. The unit showed why it might be the most potent third line in the league. Modano picked up a pair of assists.

"It was great for first game. We had a good touch, we had scoring chances,'' Hudler said. "Obviously, (the regular season) is going to be a different game, but that's why we're playing preseason games, get used to each other.

"(Modano) has been in the league for 20 years, he can read a lot right away. It's not going to be hard (to gel), he's got such experience. Bear (Cleary) is flying out there. Just got to talk about it and be even better next time.''

After Hudler was done speaking, Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano handed him a package that contained a replica Clarence Campbell Bowl, which each player on the 2009 Western Conference championship team received.

"Delayed gift, one year late,'' Devellano said.

Hudler gave his club a 2-0 lead on the power play at 8:45 of the first period, knocking in the rebound of Modano's shot. Hudler made it 4-1 at 7:29 of the second period by tipping in a pass from Brian Rafalski.

After playing in Russia last season, Hudler hopes to top his NHL career highs of 23 goals and 57 points in 2008-09 with the Red Wings.

"It's just confidence,'' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of the third line. "The more they play together the better they'll get.''

Modano, who also will play the right point on the second power-play unit, liked the way the line skated and how the power-play units moved the puck.

"It was nice to have a lot of (power play) opportunities, to get a feel of what everybody likes to do, moving around, getting some shots,'' Modano said. "Get some looks, see different options and go through them, look at our different reads.''

Niklas Kronwall and Johan Franzen each had a goal and an assist for Detroit (3-3). Jan Mursak, Jakub Kindl and Henrik Zetterberg each scored a goal. Valtteri Filppula and Rafalski had two assists apiece.

Thomas McCollum, making his first career preseason start, stopped 16-of-18 shots in two periods. Joey MacDonald stopped 3-of-4 in the third.

The Red Wings dressed their strongest lineup in the preseason, using their top three lines minus Todd Bertuzzi, whose back tightened up in the morning, and top four defensemen.

"When you're stopping players you've watched on TV growing up, it definitely helps your confidence,'' McCollum said. "I have to continue to improve my skating. The two plays I got beat on were nice plays, but if I keep working on my lateral movement, maybe I can get there and make those saves.''

Babcock said the Mursak-Cory Emmerton-Kirk Maltby line was very effective. Maltby set up Mursak's goal, which opened the scoring at 6:26 of the first period, with a hit along the boards.

Babcock also liked the play of young defensemen Jakub Kindl, who was paired with Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Lashoff.

Kindl put the Red Wings up 3-1 at 18:25 on the power play. He stole the puck in his own zone and led the rush, which he capped by scoring from the slot on a pass from Franzen following a give-and-go.

"He's gotten better every year he's been in our program,'' Babcock said of Kindl. "He's a kid we drafted high (19th overall in 2005). It's taken him longer than some people might have expected to have an opportunity to knock on the door like this, and yet, he's played with good confidence and he's moved the puck. He can skate, he's a big guy.''

Kindl is putting some pressure on Jonathan Ericsson, who is coming off a bad season and hasn't had a strong camp, for the sixth spot on defense.

Mattias Ritola took Bertuzzi's spot on the second line, with Filppula and Franzen. Ritola could be the odd-man out in the competition for the final forward spot, as both Babcock and general manager Ken Holland gave Drew Miller a big vote of confidence earlier in the week.

Ritola might be traded or waived. Scouts from several teams watched Friday's game. Included in the group was Tampa Bay's Pat Verbeek, the former Red Wings scout.